Red Bend Catholic College

Fee Policy

Parents and guardians who enrol students’ at Red Bend Catholic College Forbes are responsible for meeting all fees charged during the term of the enrolment (where applicable from Year 7 to 12). Fees are a primary source of income for the College without which the College would not be able to meet its own financial commitments. Full payment of those fees by 30th November each year is a requirement for Red Bend Catholic College to operate adequately and effectively.

Fees Payable Prior to Enrolment

A $200 non-refundable fee for all new Enrolment Applications is to be paid with each student’s enrolment application.

Fees Payable After Enrolment Tuition and Boarding Fees

The college charges tuition and boarding separate as well as any subject levies and text books which are all itemised on the account.

Boarding Fees and GST

Boarding fees include a GST charge on the food component only. The College reserves the right to adjust fees in line with any future changes in GST legislation.

Sibling Discounts

The sibling discount for 2 children from the same family is 10% for each child, 3 children from the same family the discount is 20% for each child and 4 children from the same family is 30% for each child – this is on tuition only and excludes boarding and incidentals.

Early Payment Discount

A 5% discount of net tuition (ie. after any applicable sibling discount) is offered if tuition (plus any balance from previous year) is paid by the end of February.

Fee Payment Process

• Tuition and Boarding fees are billed annually and appear on the January fee account posted/emailed to families at or prior to commencement of Term 1. Fee accounts will then be posted/emailed monthly to disclose any new charges incurred during the term, display the fee payments received during the period and indicate the balance remaining.
• All families are to pay their total fee balance in one of the following timeframes:
  • The entire balance by 29th February (the College offers a 5% discount of tuition for payment by the end of February); or
  • Weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments commencing in February and ending prior to 30th November.
• Red Bend Catholic College currently operates a direct debit facility to automatically debit a bank account or credit card.
• The fee payment methods available are listed below:-
  • 1) Direct Debit or Automatic Credit Card
  • 2) Direct Deposit (for upfront payment only)
  • 3) Cheque (for upfront payment only)
  • 4) Cash or EFTPOS (for upfront payment only)

• 1) Direct Debit or Automatic Credit Card:- It is a condition of enrolment (for all new students’ &/or families) that fees are paid by Direct Debit, Automatic Credit Card or CentrePay. For new families, a Direct Debit/Credit Card Request Form will be mailed with the College’s Acceptance Documentation Package. This form needs to be completed and returned to the Finance Officer. This form only needs to be completed once during the students’ enrolment (unless bank or credit card details change) and provides the College authority to modify the instalment amount in line with changing fee levels and extra charges to ensure the fee balance is cleared by the 30th November each year. The cost of processing the Direct Debit and Credit Card transactions are borne by the College.

It is the family’s responsibility to ensure funds are available in their accounts when the Finance Office processes the payments to prevent the transaction being declined.

Please contact us to arrange any other preferred dates for direct debit.

Direct Deposit (for upfront payment only):- Payment can be made directly into the College’s bank account. The account details are:-

Name of Account: Red Bend Catholic College Schooling Account

Name of Bank: Commonwealth Bank

Bank Branch Code: 063 000

Account Number: 00 396 854

REFERENCE CODE: ACCOUNT ID / SURNAME (as appear on account)

1. Cheque (for upfront payment only):- make all cheques payable to Red Bend Catholic College
2. Cash/EFTPOS (for upfront payment only):- cash is accepted and EFTPOS/Credit Card is available at the Front Office.

• If weekly, fortnightly or monthly fee instalments result in financial hardship due to the nature of your income stream (eg. a farming operation), please contact the Business Manager on (02) 6852 2000 or by email to accounts@redbendcc.nsw.edu.au prior to commencement of the student commencing or prior to first term commencing.

• For any further information on fees and payments, please contact the Finance Officer on (02) 6852 2000 or by email accounts@redbendcc.nsw.edu.au

Overdue Accounts

• If a family’s financial circumstances change significantly and fee payment becomes an issue, the family is to contact the Business Manager immediately on (02) 6852 2000.
• It is unreasonable and unjust to other families if fee accounts are ignored or no attempt is made to comply promptly with the above procedures. If this occurs or there is an inadequate or discourteous response to queries by the Finance Office, the account will be referred to the Principal and the student’s enrolment at the College may be reviewed.
• If a family is seeking a payment plan due to significant changes in their financial circumstances, the College reserves the right to request financial documentation such as tax returns (personal and business if applicable), payslips or Centrelink statements in order to assess the family’s capacity to meet fees. If a payment plan is granted, the College may reassess the family’s situation at any time. If a family fails to meet their commitments under a payment plan, the matter will be referred to the Principal and the student’s enrolment at the College may be reviewed.
• The College considers the legal commitment for fees to rest with the person or persons who have signed the student’s enrolment application. It is irrelevant whose name appears on the fee account. If a parent or guardian arranges for a third party to pay the fees, it is the former’s responsibility to ensure payment occurs. The College will not enter into any correspondence with that third party. All fee queries, and if necessary legal action, will be directed to the person or persons who signed the student’s enrolment application.
• If necessary, Red Bend Catholic College will refer outstanding accounts to a debt collection agency or solicitor for further action. The family will be contacted in writing that this action is pending and provided with further opportunity to make payments before this occurs. All costs associated with the recovery of these fees will be passed onto the family concerned.